Ashulia protests force factories to close

All ready-made garment units in the Ashulia belt called it a day on Monday morning after workers clashed with the industrial police in the area.

The factories had reopened in the morning after the outrage of the workers compelled the authorities to announce Saturday and Sunday as holidays for the units.

Clashes broke out when the industrial police intervened.

One ambulance was stopped and set on fire near the Jamgarah bus stand area, Industrial Police’s Assistant Director Moniruzzaman said. The workers were trying repeatedly to put a blockade on the Dhaka-Tangail highway.

The workers hit the streets and began protests, chanting slogans demanding for execution of Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana at around 9:00am, witnesses said. They also smashed some factories.

“All factories have been shut for the day to avoid deterioration of the situation,” Moniruzzaman said.

Angry workers hit the streets in several areas from Thursday, a day after the Rana Plaza collapse, protesting against the incident. Outraged, they smashed several factories compelling the BGMEA and BKMEA to announce Saturday, Sunday as holidays for the garments sector.

They also laid siege on the BGMEA building in Dhaka on Thursday.

It is alleged that the workers of the five RMG units located inside Rana Plaza were forced into work on Wednesday – the day when the nine-storied building caved in leaving at least 377 dead and many unaccounted for.